Weighing the Facts on Concord Grape Juice

CONCORD, Mass., June 1, 2010 - A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition showed that drinking 100% Concord grape juice did not lead to significant changes in appetite, energy intake or body weight.1

Weighty Matter

The health benefits offered by fruits are sometimes overlooked when they are consumed in the form of a juice. Evidence suggests that for most children and adults, drinking moderate amounts of 100% fruit juice is not associated with overweight.2-5However, some have remained concerned that juice may impact weight gain, mainly because compared to whole fruit, juice can be consumed with less effort and thus could provide more calories with less satiety (sense of fullness).6

100% Concord Grape Juice and Body Weight

In a study published by the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Director of the Ingestive Behavior Research Center and Professor in the Department of Foods and Nutrition at Purdue University, Dr. Richard Mattes and his team showed that drinking 100% Concord grape juice did not lead to significant changes in appetite or to increased energy intake; in fact, it was associated with reduced waist circumference.1

This double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was composed of 76 overweight men and women who were divided into three groups and studied for 12 weeks. The intervention group drank eight ounces of 100% Concord grape juice twice daily, the placebo group drank a grape-flavored drink and the final group was a non-treatment control group. Unlike the Concord grape juice drinkers, those in the placebo group felt less full, experienced moderate yet significant weight gain, and did not experience a significant decrease in waist circumference.

While it is too early to draw any conclusions on Concord grape juice and body weight, this work builds on other research that has shown that daily, moderate consumption of Concord grape juice does not significantly impact weight.7-10

Expert Opinion

This study showed that those who drank 100% Concord grape juice compensated for its calories by taking in fewer calories from other foods and drinks throughout the day and thus avoided a positive calorie balance and significant weight gain. According to Dr. Mattes, "These results are in sharp contrast to other published evidence suggesting little or no compensation for energy-containing beverages." With that said, Dr. Mattes added, "Energy compensation may not fully explain why the Concord grape juice group exhibited a significant decline in waist circumference and no significant weight gain, while the placebo group did gain a significant amount of weight. The differences in weight may be attributable to the beneficial effects of grape polyphenols on thermogenesis or fat oxidation."